I used to sell guitars in the 70's and the prices were way different. However the quality of new Gibsons and Fenders at the time was shitee. I had to set up all guitars that we got. Gibsons insisted on shipping everything with 'light' gauge strings (12 for a top E), so they all had to be changed and set up for 10's. Fender just were cr@p..... This was the 3 bolt neck era! This is when I started to realise how much better the older guitars were. Now the newer Fenders are a lot better but the new Gibsons are still not great. I had a new LP Custom with the flame top in the early 90's and the center line was under the D string. This was a guitar they shipped without a pickguard to show off the top! Also I tried about 10 before I got this, I used to have a friend who worked at Sam Ash and she took me into the stockroom to try the guitars (thats all we were up to in there - honest :P ). I also had some custom shop Firebirds, which were better but not great, and a friend had a LP Historic flame top, but sold it because it was very heavy and the neck wasn't great.
I know I am very lucky in having a lot of old guitars, but when I try them against the new ones, they really are nicer. I don't know if it is all the playing they have had or if it is the wood settling in to the tension, but there is a big difference. In new guitars now, I would get a custom made one (this is what I have done for my last few guitars). With a custom maker you can get exactly what you want for about the price of a US made guitar. The only thing I woudl say is that if it is a Fender you want, then the new ones are good too, I have a japanese 62 tele and a real one, the neck shapes are almost identical and you have new hardware on the jap one. The only thing is the pickups, but you are at the right place to get a great set of pickups!
Even with guitars like PRS, the earlier ones feel better. Just my 2 cents worth though.
In sad buying and selling stories, how about a 62 Precision bought for 80 quid and sold for a hundred, or a TV white SG junior sold for 200, or a cream and wheat tremolux and matching cab for 150. I wish I had those now, to say nothing of all the AC30's sold for less than 100 and Plexi 50's that I had and sold!
